THE Sports Ministry could soon dismantle the 15-member board of the Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission (JADCO) over fears of conflict of interest issues as at least two members of the board are heads of national sports association.

The issue was placed on the table last week during a three-day visit to Jamaica by director general of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), David Howman.

The presidents of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Paul Campbell and Howard Aris, respectively, currently sit of the JADCO board chaired by Dr Errol Morrison.

Howman, who came to Jamaica at the invitation of Sports Minister Olivia Grange to audit the nations’ two-year-old anti-doping body, told the Sunday Observer that issues relating to conflict of interest have to be dealt with.

“Look, I think the issue of conflict is a difficult one because it need not be real conflict, it can often be perceived conflict,” Howman said.

“The decision has to be taken here, not by me, but people have to sit back and I’ve been in many situations in my career where you have a few hats and you’ve got to take a couple off and say, ‘what will the world think of this’.

“If they think that I’m doing something that could be wrong, I better pull out and that’s what all of us in a professional situation have to think of,” Howman reasoned.

“If you’re creating a perception which is not helping the organisation you’re working for, pull out.

“Now that’s a decision that I think needs to be taken pretty carefully in the way forward here in Jamaica and I’m sure they will do that,” the WADA boss added.

When contacted for her take on the matter, Minister Grange said she would not make any hasty decisions relating to the JADCO board.

“I do not want to pre-empt the (WADA) report,” Grange told the Sunday Observer.

A timeline has not been set for the submission of WADA’s report concerning their audit of JADCO to the Sports Minister.

Dr Morrison, who conceded there could be instances when conflict of interest issues arise, told the Sunday Observer that mechanisms are in place to address those situations.

“I think they’re more perception than anything else, because it is more desirable. The individuals who are going to be prepared to serve on boards like these are ones who will have some interest in sports and it’s not going to be surprising that they make wear several hats.

“The thing is, when do they take off one hat and wear the other, and that is what we’re pretty rigid about,” Dr Morrison said.

“What we’re saying is that suppose a matter was to be discussed as to a team that was going to be tested, then that individual which represents that area (Sports Association) would be recused from that discussion. It is logical and imperative that we would act in that manner,” Dr Morrison added.

The other members of the JADCO board are vice-chairperson Dr Marion Bullock-DuCasse, Alveta Knight, Dr Andre Wheatley, Joan Brown, Molly Phone, Dr Herbert Elliott, Michael Fennell, Neville ‘Teddy’ McCook, Chris Stokes, Vilma McDonald as well as (ex-officio members) Dr Charles-Freeman, executive director, and Maria Jones, permanent secretary.